{"id":64,"date":"2024-02-01T07:30:55","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T07:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/?p=64"},"modified":"2024-02-01T07:30:55","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T07:30:55","slug":"how-to-stay-healthy-and-safe-during-australias-mouse-plague","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/2024\/02\/01\/how-to-stay-healthy-and-safe-during-australias-mouse-plague\/","title":{"rendered":"How to stay healthy and safe during Australia&#8217;s mouse plague"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A mouse plague is wreaking havoc in rural areas across several states in Australia, increasing the risk of illnesses such as\u00a0leptospirosis\u00a0\u2014 as well as poor\u00a0mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeding off bumper crops after the end of the drought and enjoying cosy living conditions, mice have been multiplying and crippling farmers. Some graziers have resorted to burning their own produce to slow the rodents down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mouse plagues occur now and again in \u2018Straya\u2019. But there are some things you can do to protect your health and wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How a mouse plague can affect your health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mice can contaminate food \u2014 which can lead to\u00a0food poisoning\u00a0and spoilage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rampant rodents can also carry diseases that may spread to humans. While rare, these types of disease can transfer via direct contact with infected mice or contaminated soil, food and water. Many of them can be treated with\u00a0antibiotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Leptospirosis<\/strong>: an infection caused by the bacteria&nbsp;<em>Leptospira<\/em>, which is found in the urine of infected animals including mice, rats, cattle, pigs and dogs. Symptoms include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>fever\u00a0and chills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>headache<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>sore muscles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>diarrhoea<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>vomiting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>red eyes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Murine and scrub typhus<\/strong>: types of infection transmitted by the fleas carried by rodents and by larval mites that live on rodents, respectively. Murine typhus is also known as \u2018endemic typhus\u2019. Symptoms are severe and begin suddenly, including a rash on the trunk (torso) of the body which may spread \u2014 but not to the face, palms or soles of the feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection<\/strong>: usually caused by exposure to the urine, faeces or saliva of infected rodents, LCMV infection can lead to\u00a0flu-like illness\u00a0and sometimes\u00a0meningitis. Symptoms can, however, be mild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Gastrointestinal infections<\/strong>: these include the (scary-sounding) infections\u00a0salmonellosis,\u00a0campylobacteriosis\u00a0and\u00a0cryptosporidiosis. They\u2019re normally passed through food but can also be transmitted by mice. Symptoms may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>diarrhoea<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>vomiting and\u00a0abdominal (stomach) pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fever<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>headache<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>body aches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lethargy (fatigue)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rat-bite fever<\/strong>: this is a\u00a0bacterial illness\u00a0that can be contracted through the\u00a0bite of an infected animal\u00a0\u2014 or from water or food contaminated by rodent urine or faeces. Often, the bite wound isn&#8217;t visible by the time the person is unwell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Symptoms of rat-bite fever may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>fever<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>muscle or joint pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>rash<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>vomiting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>headache<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If left untreated, rat-bite fever can lead to deep infections and\u00a0sepsis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to avoid mice-borne illnesses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t make your home more hospitable to mice and rats. Follow these tips to help keep rodents at bay, and to avoid exposure to illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In the house<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Store food in the pantry in sealed containers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Throw out food scraps straight away \u2014 including pet food \u2014 and wipe down kitchen and dining surfaces. Ensure rubbish bins have tight-fitting lids and are emptied regularly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Throw away any food or drinks that may have had contact with mice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wash cookware and cutlery in very warm water with detergent before use.\u00a0Wash your hands\u00a0well before preparing food or eating.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Block access points to the pantry and any cupboards containing food-preparation utensils.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cover floor vents with wire mesh no coarser than 1 millimetre and check these regularly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seal any holes or access points in the house.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clean out storage areas and get rid of unwanted items.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wear shoes or slippers in the house and don\u2019t lie or sleep on areas where mice have been active.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you\u2019re bitten by a mouse or rat, immediately\u00a0clean the wound\u00a0with soap and water and\u00a0seek medical advice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outside the house<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Clean out sheds and storage areas and get rid of unwanted items.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep stacked building materials, such as timber or bricks, at least 30 centimetres (a ruler length) off the ground to prevent mice from nesting there.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove any overgrown foliage \u2014 such as grass, trees, bushes and creeping plants \u2014 that might give mice access to your roof.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Store firewood away from the sides of sheds and fences, and off the ground if possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On the farm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Clean up fallen fruit, seed and waste from aviaries and chicken pens, and muck out animal faeces regularly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove fruit and nuts from trees or vines at the end of the season.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Store animal fodder, such as poultry food and bird seed, in containers with tight-fitting lids, if possible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid having open compost heaps and don\u2019t compost any animal products, such as fish, meat, chicken or dairy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cover rainwater-tank openings with wire mesh no coarser than 1 millimetre and check these regularly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep your property clear of rubbish.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seal any holes and access points to all buildings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stay safe when using chemicals and traps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you suspect poisoning, call the\u00a0<strong>Poisons Information Centre<\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a0<strong>13 11 26<\/strong>\u00a0at any time of the day or night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Avoid accidental poisoning<\/strong>: keep rat poisons (or, rodenticides) in a locked cupboard out of reach of children. Accidental\u00a0poisoning\u00a0is more common among children aged 4 years and under who live in\u00a0rural and remote areas\u00a0than among any other group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Use according to the label<\/strong>: mouse baits and poisons should only be used according to the instructions. Those intended for agricultural use only should never be used in or near your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Clean up mouse carcasses<\/strong>: wearing gloves and protective clothes and footwear, remove dead rodents promptly. Wash your hands well after cleaning up carcasses, especially before eating. This task should be done by household members who are not\u00a0pregnant\u00a0or immunocompromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Beware of phosphine gas<\/strong>: agricultural mouse bait products containing zinc phosphide release phosphine gas when they react with moisture or acids. When phosphine gas is inhaled, it can react with moisture in the lungs to form phosphoric acid, which can be serious or fatal. Symptoms of poisoning from inhalation include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>coughing\u00a0or tightness in the chest<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>headache, double vision or\u00a0dizziness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>nausea and vomiting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Children and pets should be kept away from areas where mouse baits have been used. Read more about phosphine gas at\u00a0worksafe.qld.gov.au.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mental health support during a mouse plague<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mouse plagues can impact your mental wellbeing. For help, you can contact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Lifeline\u00a0on\u00a0<strong>13 11 14<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 24 hours a day<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Beyond Blue\u00a0on\u00a0<strong>1300 22 4636<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 24 hours a day<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suicide Call Back Service\u00a0on\u00a0<strong>1300 659 467<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 24 hours a day<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia)\u00a0\u2014 if you\u2019re at home with a baby and are struggling, you can speak to a counsellor on\u00a0<strong>1300 726 306<\/strong>, Monday to Friday, 9am to 7:30pm (AET)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ifarmwell\u00a0\u2014 a free online toolkit that helps farmers cope with mental health challenges<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>your GP, who can help you with any mental-health concerns. If you don\u2019t have a regular doctor, you can find any type of health professional \u2014 wherever you are in Australia \u2014 using the\u00a0healthdirect Service Finder.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A mouse plague is wreaking havoc in rural areas across several states in Australia, increasing the risk of illnesses such as\u00a0leptospirosis\u00a0\u2014 as well as poor\u00a0mental health. Feeding off bumper crops after the end of the drought and enjoying cosy living&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66,"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions\/66"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/answerfaqpro.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}